Facts About Drug and Alcohol Abuse
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in 2004, nearly 19 million Americans ages 12 and older were using illicit drugs -- about 8 percent of the population. Each year, drug and alcohol abuse contributes to the death of more than 120,000 Americans. The Office of National Drug Control Policy, drugs and alcohol cost taxpayers more than $328 billion annually in preventable health care costs, extra law enforcement, auto crashes, crime and lost productivity.
Prescription drugs
The three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused are opioids, which are most often prescribed to treat pain; central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and stimulants that are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), and obesity.
Alcohol and prescription drug misuse affects up to 17 percent of older adults. As the average American continues to live longer, substance abuse among adults 60 and older is becoming one of the fastest growing health problems facing the country.
In 2009, 16 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for non-medical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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Alcohol
Alcohol affects every organ in the drinker's body and can damage a developing fetus. Intoxication can impair brain function and motor skills; heavy use can increase risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease. Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a diagnosable disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, and/or continued use despite harm or personal injury. Alcohol abuse, which can lead to alcoholism, is a pattern of drinking which results in harm to one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work.
In 2009, 51.9% of Americans age 12 and older had used alcohol at least once in the 30 days prior to being surveyed; 23.7% had binged (5+ drinks within 2 hours); and 6.8% drank heavily (5+ drinks on 5+ occasions).
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Marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. It is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
In 2009, 28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site).
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Cocaine
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as coke, C, snow, flake or blow.
Crack is the street name given to the freebase form of cocaine that is processed from the powdered cocaine hydrochloride form to a smokable substance. It produces an immediate, euphoric high and is also inexpensive to produce and buy.
The long-term effects of cocaine include: addiction, irritability and mood disturbances, restlessness, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations. The medical consequences of cocaine abuse include: disturbances in heart rhythm, heart attacks, chest pain, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures and headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea.
In 2009, 4.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused cocaine in any form and 1.0 million had abused crack at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as acid, blotter, boomers, cubes, microdot, or yellow sunshines), mescaline (also known as buttons, cactus, mesc, or peyote), and psilocybin (also known as magic mushroom, purple passion, or shrooms).
Under the influence of hallucinogens, the sense of direction, distance, and time becomes disoriented. These drugs can produce unpredictable, erratic, and violent behavior in users that sometimes leads to serious injuries and death. The long-term effects from using hallucinogens vary by individual; however, some common physical effects of using hallucinogens include increased heart rate and blood pressure; decreased awareness of touch and pain that can result in self-inflicted injuries; convulsions; coma; and heart and lung failure. Psychological effects include depression, anxiety, and paranoia; violent behavior; and persisting perception disorder (flashbacks).
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Heroin
Heroin is the most abused and rapidly acting of the opiate class of drugs, and is highly addictive. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as a black, sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.”
The long-term effects of heroin abuse include: addiction, substantially increased risk of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C due to intravenous use or risky sexual behaviors, collapsed veins, bacterial infections, abscesses, infection of heart lining and valves, and arthritis and other rheumatologic problems. Because most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or substances, users do not always know the strength of the drug or what is in it. As a result, they are at increased risk of overdose or death.
In 2009, 605,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused heroin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant associated with serious health conditions, such as memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart and brain damage, and increased risk of sexual behavior, which contributes to contracting hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
In 2009, 1.2 million Americans age 12 and older had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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MDMA or Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a stimulant, a so-called “club drug” because of its popularity with young people at night clubs and “raves.” Its use is now more prevalent among American teens than cocaine use, and reported availability of the drug continues to increase sharply.
Side effects and health consequences of Ecstasy use include: increased heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy and increased mental alertness/rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, dehydration, heart failure; mild hallucinogenic effects; and impaired memory and learning. Using Ecstasy can result in death for first-time users as well as habitual users.
In 2009, 2.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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Source of Facts
Join the Voices of Recovery: A Call to Action, Overview and General Facts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, September 2002, National Survey on Drug Use and Health
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